Gateshead Birders

Dragonflies
 
Males

Common Name

Scientific Name

Female and Mating pairs
Gateshead Status

Family Aeshnidae - Hawker Dragonflies
Common Hawker Aeshna juncea Possibly the rarest of the Hawkers but they occur at several widespread sites. Favoured spots have been Burdon Moor and The Derwent Walk Country Park and recently by the caravan site at Kibblesworth brickworks pools..
Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta This late flying, sometimes gregarious Hawker is getting commoner and good numbers now occur annually at favoured spots such as the ponds at Shibdon, Far Pasture and Clara Vale.
Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanaea The commonest Hawker, this inquisitive species is usually seen individually but occurs throughout, occassionaly at garden ponds.
Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis   migrant/vagrant
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator Occurs at Kibblesworth Brickworks pools and Stargate. The occassional vagrant has occured at Shibdon

Family Cordulegastridae - Golden-ringed Dragonflies
No photo Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii   Extinct
Family Libellulidae - Chasers, Skimmers and Darters
Four-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata Occurs in very good numbers at Kibblesworth and smaller numbers at Far Pastrure. Occassional records elsewhere such as Shibdon.
Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa   A migrant/vagrant with several recent records
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum Appeared in 2006 for the first time at Kibblesworth brickworks pools and though none seen then following year at least 11 there in 2008.
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum By far the commonest dragonfly, occuring throughout and often away from water such as in woodland edges and rides.
Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii  

migrant/vagrant

1 record of 3 adults in 2006 during an influx in the UK

Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum  

migrant/vagrant

1 record (2006) during an influx in the UK

Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum Not uncommon occurring at Kibblesworth, Shibdon, Far Pasture, Clara Vale and probably other sites.
Black Darter Sympetrum danae Uncommon but some occur at Kibblesworth and Ravensworth Fell and a very good colony just inside the borough at Springwell. A colony occurred at Stella until the area was cleared a mew years ago.

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